Petunia plant named ‘Balvogite’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Petunia  plant named ‘Balvogite’, characterized by its semi-double type, white-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, mounded-spreading growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Petunia x hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘Balvogite’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Petuniaplant botanically known as Petunia x hybrida and hereinafter referred toby the cultivar name ‘Balvogite’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program inGuadalupe, Calif. during July 2017. The objective of the breedingprogram was the development of semi-double type Petunia cultivars thathave a mounded-spreading growth habit.

The new Petunia cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. The female(seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Petunia x hybridabreeding selection coded 09W-W-21-3, not patented, characterized by itssingle-type, white-colored, dark green-colored foliage, and vigorous,spreading growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar isDOUBLE WAVE Rose ‘Kirimaji Double Rose’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,834,characterized by its semi-double type, red-purple colored flowers havingbrighter red-purple venation, medium green-colored foliage, andvigorous, cascading and prostrate growth habit. The new cultivar wasselected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the abovestated cross-pollination during January 2018 in a controlled environmentin Guadalupe, Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings sinceJanuary 2018 in Guadalupe, Calif. and West Chicago, Ill. hasdemonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all ofthe characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retainedthrough successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedlyobserved and can be used to distinguish ‘Balvogite’ as a new anddistinct cultivar of Petunia plant:

-   -   1. Semi-double type, white-colored flowers;    -   2. Medium green-colored foliage; and    -   3. Moderately vigorous, mounded-spreading growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parentprimarily in having semi-double type flowers, reduced growth vigor, anda more mounded growth habit. Plants of the new cultivar differ fromplants of the male parent primarily in having white-colored flowers anda more mounded growth habit.

Of the many commercially available Petunia cultivars, the most similarin comparison to the new cultivar is DOUBLE WAVE White ‘Kirimaji DoubleWhite’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,281. However, in comparison, plants ofthe new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Kirimaji Double White’ in atleast the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar are narrower than plants of        ‘Kirimaji Double White’;    -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have vestigial pistils unlike        plants of ‘Kirimaji Double White’; and    -   3. Plants of the new cultivar have faint green-colored midveins        on petal upper surface unlike the red-purple colored midveins of        plants of ‘Kirimaji Double White’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typicalflower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed description, which accurately describes the colors of‘Balvogite’. The approximately 14-week-old plants were grown in 6-inchpots for approximately 7 weeks in a greenhouse in West Chicago, Ill.Plants were given one pinch four weeks prior to transplant.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habitof ‘Balvogite’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual flower of‘Balvogite’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype mayvary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature,light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is TheR.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England,2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significanceare used. The color values were determined in December 2020 undernatural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe approximately14-week-old plants produced from cuttings from stock plants and grown ina glass-covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used incommercial practice. The plants were grown in West Chicago, Ill. in6-inch pots for approximately 7 weeks utilizing a soilless growthmedium. Plants were given one pinch four weeks prior to transplant.Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 70° F. to 75°F. (21° C. to 24° C.) during the day and approximately 68° F. to 74° F.(20° C. to 23° C.) during the night. Supplemental lighting was used.Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Petunia x hybrida ‘Balvogite’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Petunia x hybrida breeding            selection coded 09W-W-21-3, not patented.        -   Male parent.—DOUBLE WAVE Rose ‘Kirimaji Double Rose’, U.S.            Plant Pat. No. 13,834.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.        -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 6 to 9 days.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 21 to 28            days.        -   Root description.—Fibrous.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 6 to 8 weeks from a            rooted cutting to finish in a 10 cm pot.        -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Moderately vigorous,            mounded-spreading growth habit.        -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:            Approximately 16.0 cm. Width: Approximately 59.0 cm.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching. Pinching enhances basal            branching. Quantity of main branches per plant:            Approximately 8.        -   Branch.—Strength: Moderate. Length: Approximately 33.0 cm.            Diameter: Approximately 3.0 mm. Length of central internode:            Approximately 2.5 cm. Texture: Densely glandular pubescent            with a mixture of long and short hairs. Gland color:            Colorless, transparent. Color of young stems: 144A. Color of            mature stems: 146A.-   Foliage description:    -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per main branch:            Approximately 19. Fragrance: Slight. Form: Simple.            Arrangement on flowering stem: Alternate.        -   Leaves.—Aspect: Acute angle to perpendicular to stem. Shape:            Ovate. Margin: Entire. Apex: Broadly acute. Base: Broadly            attenuate to rounded. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of            mature leaf: Approximately 4.5 cm. Width of mature leaf:            Approximately 3.7 cm. Texture of upper surface: Sparsely            glandular pubescent. Texture lower surface: Moderately            glandular pubescent. Gland color: Colorless, transparent.            Color of upper surface of young and mature foliage: 137A            with venation of 146C to indistinguishable. Color of lower            surface of young and mature foliage: Closest to 146B with            venation of 146D to indistinguishable.        -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 8.0 mm. Width: Approximately            3.0 mm. Texture: Densely glandular pubescent with a mixture            of long and short hairs. Gland color: Colorless,            transparent. Color: 146D.-   Flowering description:    -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balvogite’ is freely flowering under            outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous            blooming from spring through autumn and year-round in            greenhouse environment.        -   Lastingness of individual flower on the plant.—Approximately            10 to 12 days.-   Flower description:    -   -   General description.—Type: Semi-double, hemispherical.            Quantity per plant: Approximately 14. Fragrance: Slight.        -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 3 to 5 days for bud to            progress from first color to fully open flower. Quantity per            plant: Approximately 30.        -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Ovoid. Length: Approximately            1.7 cm. Diameter at widest point: Approximately 1.2 cm.            Diameter at base: Approximately 3.0 mm. Texture: Densely            glandular pubescent. Gland color: Colorless, transparent.            Color of petal portion: 155C with venation of 144B. Color of            tube: 155C with an overlay and venation of 144B.        -   Corolla.—Diameter: Approximately 6.5 cm.        -   Petals.—Quantity: Approximately 21 to 23, base fused to form            a tube. Shape: Obovate. Appearance: Matte. Margin: Entire,            ruffled. Apex: Broadly acute. Length from throat of            outermost: Approximately 2.6 cm. Width of outermost:            Approximately 2.3 cm. Length from throat of innermost:            Approximately 1.3 cm. Width of innermost when flattened:            Approximately 1.0 cm. Texture of upper surface: Glabrous.            Texture of lower surface: Sparsely glandular pubescent.            Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color of upper surface            when first and fully open: NN155A with faint midveins of            144A. Color of lower surface when first and fully open:            NN155A with midveins of 144A.        -   Corolla tube.—Length: Approximately 2.0 cm. Diameter at            distal end: Approximately 2.0 cm. Diameter at proximal end:            Approximately 3.0 mm. Texture of inner surface: Glabrous.            Texture of outer surface: Densely glandular pubescent. Gland            color: Colorless, transparent. Color of inner surface:            NN155A with an overlay and venation of 144A. Color of outer            surface: NN155A with venation of 144A.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 5, fused at base. Shape:            Linear. Margin: Entire. Apex: Broadly acute. Length:            Approximately 1.6 cm. Width: Approximately 4.0 mm. Texture            of upper and lower surfaces: Densely glandular pubescent.            Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color of upper surface:            137A. Color of lower surface: 138A with 145B at base.        -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong, flexible. Aspect: Acute angle to            stem. Length: Approximately 2.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately            2.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent with a mixture of long            and short glandular hairs. Gland color: Colorless,            transparent. Color: 146C.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity:            Approximately 15 to 17, basifixed. Stamen length (if fully            developed): Approximately 1.8 cm. Filament length of fixed            portion: Approximately 3.0 mm. Filament color: NN155A to            145D. Anther shape: Bilobed to irregular. Anther length:            Approximately 1.0 mm. Anther color: 158B. Pollen amount:            Moderate. Pollen color: 155A. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1            per flower, vestigial.-   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has    been observed.-   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests    common to Petunia has not been observed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Petunia plant named ‘Balvogite’, substantially as herein illustrated and described. 